clamp meters

[pushrod]

How useful are these for fault finding etc . Some are advertised for earth leakage detection -how good/useful are they for this - can a good mft do this? Have seen some that can measure power factor - useful feature, or not really considering the extra cost?
What have you tried that was good or turned out to be rubbish?

Any recommendations ? - what is a sensible price for something that is going to be useful - prices seem to go from a tenner to £350
Don't envisage working in industry more likely to be domestic problem solving, but would rather get something that is flexible than find myself having to buy another one 12 months down the line.

any opinions welcome - cheers.

 

[Darkwood]

Dont go overboard if you aint in industrial, clamping inrush peak etc a cheap variety will suffice, they are also a must when tripping circuits with no markings as checking the loading can give you an idea if its the circuit your after and not the 10 computers in the next office.
Most multi-meters will allow plug in clamps if its a one off need these although tacky are cheap and do the job.

 

[electricAl]

Hia Pushrod.& DW.
For what it`s worth my Megger Earth Leakage clampy i find indispensible. Measures upto 300A as a straight clampmeter, but it`s the diagnostic ability of the earth leakage measurement that makes it so useful. Great for assessing potential RCD trip issues in advance of board changes etc or finding whats causing nuisance tripping to less dutiful CU installers work - make up a adaptor lead with male/female plugtop & socket & you`ll be able to highlight appliances dumping earth currents.

Buying again i might be tempted by a Fluke - pretty sure one of theres has the one feature i miss - capturing a min/max value, but can live without it.

All in all, a very worthwhile investment for an intelligent spark, i think you`ll find

p.s. mines the DCM300E. Did have a Robin a while back which was also very good until some plank put a plank on it. & as i say look at the Flukes

 

[pushrod]

Thanks DW and Al both useful answers particularly like the idea, Al, of being able to pre-empt problems with CU changes.
With the adaptor lead (you open outer sheath for access to just L&N?) for checking earth leakage from appliances is that a fairly instantaneous reading or do you have to leave the clamp on the appliance for 10 mins or more because the leakage varies as it runs? I suppose the max min feature really comes into its own then.

 

[Griffin]

I use a fluke T5 for general stuff, should cover you for a majority of domestic. Not sure about resolution if you trying to measure MA.

Also have a dedicated 200A AC/DC clamp meter which I bought from RS a couple of years ago

Regards

G

 

[trypod]

For industrial applications I would use a Megger DCM340 ( up to 600A )

For Domestic and general maintenance I would use a Megger MMC850 Multi-core clampmeter

Regards

Kev

 

[pushrod]

Have done my research and probably got it down to two - a kewtech one HERE and the megger DCM300E. As far as i can see the megger can read up to 300A whereas the kewtech is just a 100A and the megger has a moving bargraph display which sounds useful but not sure it is worth the extra £100.
Anyone owned the kewtech or got any other observations/comments ?